Victor Cruz had specific plans for what will prove to be a much longer off-season in 2013.

The Giants' Victor Cruz reacts after not getting an interference call in the end zone against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium.

“I’m going to relax,” Cruz said, flashing a smile last month while walking out of the Giants’ locker room for the final time of the 2012 season.

The season was over, a Super Bowl repeat squashed even before the playoffs began, and the Paterson native was beginning the process of clearing his mind and recharging his body for the challenge and the uncertainty that await him.

“Take some time to relax,” Cruz said. “Then get ready to come back even better.”

Coming back to the Giants – at least the desire to do so – has never been the issue for Cruz, who will represent Big Blue in the first Pro Bowl of his career Sunday in Hawaii.

There is no doubt regarding the Giants’ desire to have Cruz and his No. 80 on the field for them and nobody else for some time, likely until the 26-year-old born and raised in North Jersey hangs up his helmet and shoulder pads years from now.

But the business of the NFL must also be weighed here, which is why Cruz and the Giants have yet to come to terms that will keep him under contract past the 2013 season.

In reality, while his return is highly anticipated, because Cruz is a restricted free agent, that’s not even guaranteed as of yet.

And despite what both sides may want, if Cruz doesn’t have a new deal in place when free agency opens March 12, the Giants almost certainly will use a first-round tender worth $2.88 million in 2013. That would be a sizable raise from Cruz’s base salary of $540,000 last season, but not the long-term contract he is seeking, a deal that would likely pay him anywhere from $8 million to $10 million per year.

Teams with picks in the latter part of the first round and more salary flexibility than the Giants could make a run at Cruz, tempting him with a more lucrative offer sheet.

General manager Jerry Reese has indicated Cruz’s contractual future is “part of the evaluation process,” and that “everything is on the table” regarding a long-term deal.

Cruz has certainly parlayed his 15 minutes of fame into an hour and a half, and there’s no sign of it running out any time soon. He has also earned some semblance of financial security, and the Giants surely would love to give that to him.

Popularity isn’t an issue. Two weeks ago, he and fiancée Elaina Watley were invited guests of Calvin Klein and flown in for Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, Italy.

He received the most Pro Bowl votes of any NFC wide receiver and gained enormous respect for the way he handled events in the aftermath of the Newtown (Conn.) shooting tragedy.

Production isn’t an issue either, considering his value as one of Eli Manning’s most reliable targets.

After spending most of his third professional season trying to prove there is substance behind the celebrity, Cruz did that even as defensive coordinators designed schemes to take him out of games, especially with Hakeem Nicks fighting through injuries.

“I think I’ve done enough to show them I’m a good guy on and off the field,” Cruz said, “and that I’ve done everything positive up until this point to prove that I’m somebody that the organization will want to keep around for a long time.”

Cruz became the first wide receiver in team history to record at least 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and nine scores in a season, and now he has done it twice.

“I feel good about my season. I’m happy I got to get those one-year wonder questions out of my system,” Cruz said. “Nobody can say that about me now. Obviously I wanted this season to end differently, but I’m proud of the way I played this year.”

Cruz will start for the NFC alongside Atlanta’s Julio Jones because of injuries to Calvin Johnson of the Lions and the Bears’ Brandon Marshall, who were initially voted in.

He wore a microphone for the NFL in a Pro Bowl practice earlier this week and will get the opportunity to team with Manning, who was also named to the team when Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers was forced to pull out because of injury.

In the last two seasons, Cruz has caught 168 passes for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“I think that will be good to have,” Manning said, referring to the QB/WR tandem that will join guard Chris Snee and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the All-Star game. “You know his timing, you know his body language, those types of things. That will definitely be an advantage, hopefully when I’m in the game he’ll be in there as well.

“Hopefully, we can hook up a few times and get some completions.”

Cruz is hoping to remain part of that connection for the rest of Manning’s career, not just his.

“I want to be here. I want to stay here,” Cruz said. “This is my home. This is where I go to play football. So hopefully we can get things squared away and I can be here for a long time.”

What promises to be an interesting path toward that end will begin in earnest very soon.

The Giants' Victor Cruz reacts after not getting an interference call in the end zone against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium.

“I’m going to relax,” Cruz said, flashing a smile last month while walking out of the Giants’ locker room for the final time of the 2012 season.

The season was over, a Super Bowl repeat squashed even before the playoffs began, and the Paterson native was beginning the process of clearing his mind and recharging his body for the challenge and the uncertainty that await him.

“Take some time to relax,” Cruz said. “Then get ready to come back even better.”

Coming back to the Giants – at least the desire to do so – has never been the issue for Cruz, who will represent Big Blue in the first Pro Bowl of his career Sunday in Hawaii.

There is no doubt regarding the Giants’ desire to have Cruz and his No. 80 on the field for them and nobody else for some time, likely until the 26-year-old born and raised in North Jersey hangs up his helmet and shoulder pads years from now.

But the business of the NFL must also be weighed here, which is why Cruz and the Giants have yet to come to terms that will keep him under contract past the 2013 season.

In reality, while his return is highly anticipated, because Cruz is a restricted free agent, that’s not even guaranteed as of yet.

And despite what both sides may want, if Cruz doesn’t have a new deal in place when free agency opens March 12, the Giants almost certainly will use a first-round tender worth $2.88 million in 2013. That would be a sizable raise from Cruz’s base salary of $540,000 last season, but not the long-term contract he is seeking, a deal that would likely pay him anywhere from $8 million to $10 million per year.

Teams with picks in the latter part of the first round and more salary flexibility than the Giants could make a run at Cruz, tempting him with a more lucrative offer sheet.

General manager Jerry Reese has indicated Cruz’s contractual future is “part of the evaluation process,” and that “everything is on the table” regarding a long-term deal.

Cruz has certainly parlayed his 15 minutes of fame into an hour and a half, and there’s no sign of it running out any time soon. He has also earned some semblance of financial security, and the Giants surely would love to give that to him.

Popularity isn’t an issue. Two weeks ago, he and fiancée Elaina Watley were invited guests of Calvin Klein and flown in for Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, Italy.

He received the most Pro Bowl votes of any NFC wide receiver and gained enormous respect for the way he handled events in the aftermath of the Newtown (Conn.) shooting tragedy.

Production isn’t an issue either, considering his value as one of Eli Manning’s most reliable targets.

After spending most of his third professional season trying to prove there is substance behind the celebrity, Cruz did that even as defensive coordinators designed schemes to take him out of games, especially with Hakeem Nicks fighting through injuries.

“I think I’ve done enough to show them I’m a good guy on and off the field,” Cruz said, “and that I’ve done everything positive up until this point to prove that I’m somebody that the organization will want to keep around for a long time.”

Cruz became the first wide receiver in team history to record at least 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and nine scores in a season, and now he has done it twice.

“I feel good about my season. I’m happy I got to get those one-year wonder questions out of my system,” Cruz said. “Nobody can say that about me now. Obviously I wanted this season to end differently, but I’m proud of the way I played this year.”

Cruz will start for the NFC alongside Atlanta’s Julio Jones because of injuries to Calvin Johnson of the Lions and the Bears’ Brandon Marshall, who were initially voted in.

He wore a microphone for the NFL in a Pro Bowl practice earlier this week and will get the opportunity to team with Manning, who was also named to the team when Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers was forced to pull out because of injury.